This dissertation is an explication and examination of the role of the object in classical and early ego psychoanalytic theory on masochism. Masochism is the act of hurting oneself either in thought or deed. It has proven to be a paradoxical and challenging clinical phenomenon due to its self-perpetuating nature and resistance to change. Masochism can be understood to be present in all pathologies, from neurosis to psychosis, and in multiple types of personality constellations. Therefore, the concept of masochism has utility both in understanding the developmental history of a patient and in clinical treatment..